Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-27
G.. A. r.
The Grand Encampment
at st. Louis.
G.. A. r.
THE LARGEST GATHERING YET.
The Veterans Once More in Tents
A Rain Delays the
Parade.

AN ADSA~y ssC
Parade.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.
ST. LOUIS, September ga ma
tional salute from Camp Washington
heralded the; dawning OF day this
morning for the veterans of the Grand
Army, and aroused visitors and COM
mittees whose duties called them to
early trains. The thin mist hanging
over the city began, increased, and de-
veloped into a steady, disagreeable
rain. However, west and south
poured in in great crowds, and before
noon the railroads had brought in
10000 citizen soldiers and many more
of their households. At the depot
and camps all seemed confusion, but
order quickly assumed command, and
the search for old regiments and old
friends at once began.
A SPLENDID SPECTACLE.
\ Armory Hall, headquarters of the
Southern California brigade, presents
a magnificent spectacle, we'll worthy
of the Golden State. A large painting
of a mammoth grizzly bear hangs over
the entrance, and the interior fairly
scintillates with banners, shields,
coats-of-arms, streamers, etc. The ta-
BILE for the display of fruits, etc., ex-
tends the entire length of the hall. 1t
is covered with bunting and is fanked
by two other tables, on which the
press banquet will be given on
Wednesday evening. The platform is
decorated in gorgeous style, and a
picture Of San Diego also appears upon
it. The magnificent display of Cali
fornia products will make Armory
Hall the center OF attraction, and
prove OF much practical benefit to
Southern California. This is due
largely to the forethought Of Captain
Charles Dexter, who secured the hall.
Sunday night the delayed fruit cars
had not arrived, and caused consider
able apprehension on the part of the
Californians.
IN GOOD TASTE.
The timely order of Mayor Frost
presented the display of any "offen-
sively partisan" banners, and will
doubtless avert much ill-feeling that
might otherwise have resulted by
Juggling in politics in the grand dem
onstration.
DECLINES THE HONOR.
Ransom Post and many others are
making a determined fight to have
General Sherman elected Commander
n-Chief, but the General steadily de-
clines to allow the use of his name in
that connection. Other prominent
candidates are: Slocum, of New
York, Warner, of Kansas City, and
Grier, of st. Louis. indianapolis is
striving to get the next encampment.
Sunday morning the Californians
passed a vote of thanks to the Atchi-
son, Topeka and Santa Fe railway.
THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE ENCAMP-
Are connected by telegraph with con-
venient dining halls. A bale Of straw
makes a mattress for each tent, the
bed of the soldier being strapped to
his knapsack or grip. Five hundred
of these are pitched in Lyon Park, 300
in Concordia Park, Hyde Park 500,
Washington Park So, Carr Place 700,
St. Louis 800, Jackson Park $50, For
est Park $50, around the Court House
and other places 100. In the heart of
the city for several days the deserted
walks and white coverings were more
like city of the dead, but tonight an
armp of jovial and tried spirits crowd
the way. A doubt if the boys would
take to the tents has been dispelled,
for on mizzling and rainy day more
applications for such shelter have been
made than tents are ready for, but
neighborhood hotels and boarding
houses offer relief for the surplus. In
many cases the veteran will stop in
camp and house his family near by.
PEEP WITHIN THE TENTS.
This evening reveals a touching
scene. Warrior citizens only know
the feeling of such glorious reminis-
cences. Ever and anon the surging
crowds upon the street pause to hear
the bugle call, and then a stentorian
voice calling out the name of COM
pany, regiment and State. Some
times a call for comrade not seen for
years is made. Too often there is no
response, but then again an answer
silence as they meet and then jubilee.
These camps are full of pathetic meet
ings after years of separation, and it
is this that draws so many thousand
boys in blue together. The great
camp is a success, and will become
part of the G. A. r. encampments of
the future.
FRANK p. BLAIR POST,
Besides the usual reception to visitors,
to-day marched to the residence of the
widow of General f. P. Blair, at noon,
and presented her with a medal re-
Gently adopted by the Post, bearing as
a medallion the head of her late hus-
band. In return, Mrs. Blair pre-
sented to the Post the flag of the
Seventeenth Army Corps, commanded
by General Blair during the latter
part of the war.
A GREAT GATHERING.
The departments report more men
either here or coming than were
first announced, and it is safe to say
that the grand parade will be unpre-
cedentedly large and imposing. This
evening the visitors were entertained
by receptions at the various post head
quarters. Their halls, which are beau
tifully decorated, have been thrown
open all day and many comrades
have accepted their hospitality. At
Ransom Post the band enlivened the
scene with music, and U. S. Grant
Post, OF Elizabeth, N. j., presented
Ransom Post with a handsome oil
painting of General Ransom.
Blair Post was greeted by a num-